Richgels, K.L.D., R.E. Russell, G.M. Bron, T.E. Rocke. 2016. Evaluation of Yersinia pestis transmission pathways for sylvatic plague in black-tailed prairie dogs in the Western U.S. Online First DOI: 10.1007/s10393-016-1133-9.
Katie Richgels
Biography
Dr. Richgels is the Chief of the Applied Wildlife Health Research Branch at the National Wildlife Health Center. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2014 and her Bachelor's degree in 2005 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Since joining the USGS in 2016, she has devoted her career to supporting project leaders who study wildlife diseases with the goal of helping state and federal partners better manage wildlife disease.
Education
- Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2014
- Certificate, GIS, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2006
- B.NS., Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2005
Professional Experience
- 2016 – Present Chief, Applied Wildlife Health Research Branch, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI
- 2016 – 2014 Postdoctoral Researcher, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, and University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI
- 2014 – 2011 Graduate Research Fellow, Graduate Research Fellowship Program, National Science Foundation, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO
- 2011 – 2008 Teaching and Research Assistant, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO
- 2006 –2007 Spatial Analyst, First American Spatial Solutions, Madison, WI
Affiliations
- Bsal Task Force Decision Support Team
- Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens, Invasive Pathogens Subcommittee
- Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team – Executive Committee
Science and Products
Date published: February 9, 2018
Status: Active Employment Opportunities
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center offers employment, externship, and volunteer opportunities in the field of wildlife health.
Contacts: Katie Richgels, Susan Knowles
Attribution: National Wildlife Health Center
Year Published: 2019
Response to “Prepublication communication of research results”: The need for a coordinated wildlife disease surveillance laboratory network
In “Prepublication Communication of Research Results”, Adams et al. (2018) outline the importance of timeliness in providing scientific results with consequential implications for wildlife management to responsible government agencies. The authors discuss various impediments to sharing of scientific results and provide well-reasoned arguments why...
Sleeman, Jonathan M.; Blehert, David S.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.; White, C. LeAnnAttribution: National Wildlife Health Center
Year Published: 2019
USGS-NWHC Quarterly Wildlife Mortality Report - January 2019
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) Quarterly Mortality Report provides brief summaries of epizootic mortality and morbidity events by quarter. The write-ups, highlighting epizootic events and other wildlife disease topics of interest, are published in the Wildlife Disease Association quarterly newsletter. A link is provided in this...
Richards, Bryan J.; Bodenstein, Barbara; Dusek, Robert J.; Rocke, Tonie E.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.Attribution: National Wildlife Health Center
Year Published: 2018
Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines
A research priority can be defined as a knowledge gap that, if resolved, identifies the optimal course of conservation action. We (a group of geographically distributed and multidisciplinary research scientists) used tools from nominal group theory and decision analysis to collaboratively identify and prioritize information...
Campbell Grant, Evan H.; Adams, M.J.; Fisher, Robert N.; Grear, Daniel A.; Halstead, Brian J.; Hossack, Blake R.; Muths, Erin L.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.; Russell, Robin E.; Smalling, Kelly L.; Waddle, J. Hardin; Walls, Susan C.; White, C. LeAnnAttribution: Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Water Resources, Wildlife Program, United States of America
View Citation
Grant, E. H. C., Adams, M. J., Fisher, R. N., Grear, D. A., Halstead, B. J., Hossack, B. R., Muths, E., Richgels, K. L. D., Russell, R. E., Smalling, K. L., Waddle, J. H., Walls, S. C., and White, C. L., 2018, Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines: Global Ecology and Conservation, v. 16, article e00441, 9 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00441
Year Published: 2018
Impact of sylvatic plague vaccine on non-target small rodents in grassland ecosystems
Oral vaccination is an emerging management strategy to reduce the prevalence of high impact infectious diseases within wild animal populations. Plague is a flea-borne zoonosis of rodents that often decimates prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) colonies in the western USA. Recently, an oral sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) was developed to protect prairie...
Bron, Gebbiena M.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.; Samuel. Michael D.; Poje, Julia E.; Lorenzsonn, Faye; Matteson, Jonathan P.; Boulerice, Jesse T.; Osorio, Jorge E.; Rocke, Tonie E.Attribution: National Wildlife Health Center
Year Published: 2018
Determinants of Pseudogymnoascus destructans within bat hibernacula: Implications for surveillance and management of white-nose syndrome
Fungal diseases are an emerging global problem affecting human health, food security and biodiversity. Ability of many fungal pathogens to persist within environmental reservoirs can increase extinction risks for host species and presents challenges for disease control. Understanding factors that regulate pathogen spread and persistence in these...
Verant, Michelle L.; Bohuski, Elizabeth A.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.; Olival, Kevin J.; Epstein, Jonathan H.; Blehert, David S.Attribution: National Wildlife Health Center
View Citation
J Appl Ecol. 2018;1–10.
Year Published: 2017
Factors influencing uptake of sylvatic plague vaccine baits by prairie dogs
Sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) is a virally vectored bait-delivered vaccine expressing Yersinia pestis antigens that can protect prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) from plague and has potential utility as a management tool. In a large-scale 3-year field trial, SPV-laden baits containing the biomarker rhodamine B (used to determine bait consumption) were...
Abbott, Rachel C.; Russell, Robin E.; Richgels, Katherine; Tripp, Daniel W.; Matchett, Marc R.; Biggins, Dean E.; Rocke, Tonie E.Attribution: National Wildlife Health Center
View Citation
Abbott, R.C., Russell, R.E., Richgels, K.L.D. et al. EcoHealth (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-017-1294-1
Year Published: 2017
Field efficacy trials with sylvatic plague vaccine
These data were collected as part of a field trial to test the efficacy of a sylvatic plague vaccine. Treatment and control sites were selected randomly from the available sites at each location. Site pairs were a minimum of 20 acres, (with a few exceptions). Prairie dog trapping took place a minimum of two weeks post-baiting and trapping...
Richgels, Katherine; Russell, Robin E.; Rocke, Tonie E.View Citation
Katherine Richgels, Robin Russell, and Tonie Rocke, 2017, Field efficacy trials with sylvatic plague vaccine: U.S. Geological Survey data release, http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7B56GXM.
Year Published: 2017
Sylvatic plague vaccine partially protects prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) in field trials
Sylvatic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, frequently afflicts prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), causing population declines and local extirpations. We tested the effectiveness of bait-delivered sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) in prairie dog colonies on 29 paired placebo and treatment plots (1–59 ha in size; average 16.9 ha) in 7 western...
Rocke, Tonie E.; Tripp, Daniel W.; Russell, Robin E.; Abbott, Rachel C.; Richgels, Katherine; Matchett, Marc R.; Biggins, Dean E.; Griebel, Randall; Schroeder, Greg; Grassel, Shaun M.; Pipkin, David R.; Cordova, Jennifer; Kavalunas, Adam; Maxfield, Brian; Boulerice, Jesse T.; Miller, Michael W.Attribution: National Wildlife Health Center
View Citation
Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Partially Protects Prairie Dogs
(Cynomys spp.) in Field Trials
Tonie E. Rocke,1 Daniel W. Tripp,2 Robin E. Russell,1 Rachel C. Abbott,1
Katherine L.D. Richgels,1 Marc R. Matchett,3 Dean E. Biggins,4 Randall Griebel,5
Greg Schroeder,6 Shaun M. Grassel,7 David R. Pipkin,8 Jennifer Cordova,9
Adam Kavalunas,10 Brian Maxfield,11 Jesse Boulerice,12 and Michael W. Miller2
Year Published: 2017
Using decision analysis to support proactive management of emerging infectious wildlife diseases
Despite calls for improved responses to emerging infectious diseases in wildlife, management is seldom considered until a disease has been detected in affected populations. Reactive approaches may limit the potential for control and increase total response costs. An alternative, proactive management framework can identify immediate actions that...
Grant, Evan H. Campbell; Muths, Erin L.; Katz, Rachel A.; Canessa, Stefano; Adams, M.J.; Ballard, Jennifer R.; Berger, Lee; Briggs, Cheryl J.; Coleman, Jeremy; Gray, Matthew J.; Harris, M. Camille; Harris, Reid N.; Hossack, Blake R.; Huyvaert, Kathryn P.; Kolby, Jonathan E.; Lips, Karen R.; Lovich, Robert E.; McCallum, Hamish I.; Mendelson, Joseph R.; Nanjappa, Priya; Olson, Deanna H.; Powers, Jenny G.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.; Russell, Robin E.; Schmidt, Benedikt R.; Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Annemarieke; Watry, Mary Kay; Woodhams, Douglas C.; White, C. LeAnnAttribution: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Grant, E. H. C., Muths, E., Katz, R. A., Canessa, S., Adams, M. J., Ballard, J. R., Berger, L., Briggs, C. J., Coleman, J. T. H., Gray, M. J., Harris, M C., Harris, R. N., Hossack, B., Huyvaert, K. P., Kolby, J., Lips, K. R., Lovich, R. E., McCallum, H. I., Mendelson, J. R., Nanjappa, P., Olson, D. H., Powers, J. G., Richgels, K. L. D., Russell, R. E., Schmidt, B. R., Spitzen-van der Sluijs, A., Watry, M. K., Woodhams, D. C., and White, C. L., 2017, Using decision analysis to support proactive management of emerging infectious wildlife diseases: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, v. 15, no. 4, p. 214-221.
Year Published: 2017
A framework for modeling emerging diseases to inform management
The rapid emergence and reemergence of zoonotic diseases requires the ability to rapidly evaluate and implement optimal management decisions. Actions to control or mitigate the effects of emerging pathogens are commonly delayed because of uncertainty in the estimates and the predicted outcomes of the control tactics. The development of models that...
Russell, Robin E.; Katz, Rachel A.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.; Walsh, Daniel P.; Grant, Evan H. CampbellAttribution: National Wildlife Health Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
View Citation
Russell RE, Katz RA, Richgels KLD, Walsh DP, Grant EHC. A framework for modeling emerging diseases to inform management. Emerg Infect Dis. 2017
Year Published: 2016
Amphibian: A case definition for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans chytridiomycosis
No abstract available.
White, C. LeAnn; Forzan, Maria J.; Pessier, Allan P.; Allender, Matthew C.; Ballard, Jennifer R.; Catenazzi, Allesandro; Fenton, Heather; Martel, An; Pasmans, Frank; Miller, Debra L.; Ossiboff, Robert J.; Richgels, KatherineAttribution: National Wildlife Health Center
Year Published: 2016
Evaluation of Yersinia pestis transmission pathways for sylvatic plague in prairie dog populations in the western U.S.
Sylvatic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is periodically responsible for large die-offs in rodent populations that can spillover and cause human mortalities. In the western US, prairie dog populations experience nearly 100% mortality during plague outbreaks, suggesting that multiple transmission pathways combine to amplify...
Richgels, Katherine L. D.; Russell, Robin E.; Bron, Gebbiena; Rocke, Tonie E.Attribution: National Wildlife Health Center
View Citation
10.1007/s10393-016-1133-9
Pre-USGS Publications
Richgels, K.L.D., R.E. Russell, M.J. Adams, C.L. White, E.H.C. Grant. 2016. Spatial variation in risk and consequence of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans introduction in the USA. Royal Society Open Science 3:150616.
Amphibian: A case definition and diagnostic criteria for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans chytridiomycosis
White, C.L., M.J. Forzan, A.P. Pessier, M.C. Allender, J.R. Ballard, A. Catenazzi, H, Fenton, A. Martel, F. Pasmans, D.L. Miller, R.J. Ossiboff, K.L.D. Richgels, J.L. Kerby. 2016. Amphibian: A case definition and diagnostic criteria for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans chytridiomycosis. Herpetological Review 47:207-209.
Richgels, K.L.D., J.T. Hoverman, P.T.J. Johnson. 2013. Evaluating the role of regional and local processes in structuring a larval trematode metacommunity of Helisoma trivolvis. Ecography 36:854-863. DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0587.2013.07868.x
Peterson, A.C., K.L.D. Richgels, P.T.J. Johnson, and V.J. McKenzie. 2013. Investigating the dispersal routes used by an invasive amphibian, Lithobates catesbeianus, in human-dominated landscapes. Biological Invasions 15:2179-2191. DOI 10.1007/s10530-013-0442-y.
Johnson, P.T.J., D.L. Preston, J.T. Hoverman, K.L.D. Richgels. 2013. Biodiversity reduces disease through functional changes in host community composition. Nature 494:230-233.
Hoverman, J.T., J.R. Mihaljevic, K.L.D. Richgels, J.L. Kirby, P.T.J. Johnson. 2012. Widespread co-occurrence of virulent pathogens within California amphibian communities. EcoHealth 9:288-292.
Johnson P.T.J., J.T. Hoverman, V.J. McKenzie, A.R. Blaustein, K.L.D. Richgels. 2012. Urbanization and wetland communities: applying metacommunity theory to understand the local and landscape effects. Journal of Applied Ecology 50:34-42.
Johnson P.T.J., D.L. Preston, J.T. Hoverman, J.S. Henderson, S.H. Paull, K.L.D. Richgels, M.D. Redmond. 2012. Species diversity reduces parasite infection through cross-generational effects on host abundance. Ecology 93:56-64.
Johnson, P.T.J., J.M. Chase, K.L. Dosch, R.B. Hartson, J.A. Gross, D.J. Larson, D.R. Sutherland, and S.R. Carpenter. 2007. Aquatic eutrophication promotes pathogenic infection in amphibians. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 104:15781-86.
Date published: October 26, 2018
A Unified Research Strategy for Disease Management
As wildlife diseases increase globally, an understanding of host-pathogen relationships can elucidate avenues for management and improve conservation efficacy. Amphibians are among the most threatened groups of wildlife, and disease is a major factor in global amphibian declines.
Attribution: Fish & Wildlife Disease, Wildlife Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center